Suspect In 7 Marin, Sonoma Robberies Arrested

NORTH BAY, CA – Law enforcement agencies in Sonoma and Marin counties teamed up to identify and arrest a Rohnert Park man early this morning on suspicion of committing seven armed robberies and attempted robberies since August.

William Drew Hodges, 51, was arrested by a Sonoma County sheriff's SWAT team around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday at his residence in the 200 block of Allan Avenue in Rohnert Park.

Detectives from the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety and Santa Rosa Police Department participated in the service of a search warrant at the residence, and the arrest and subsequent interview of Hodges.

Authorities found a black BB gun in Hodges' car that resembled a real firearm and clothing in his car and bedroom that matched clothing seen in surveillance video at several businesses that were robbed, public safety officials said.

Hodges admitted committing the seven robberies with a BB gun in Sonoma and Marin counties, according to the Department of Public Safety.

He was booked into Sonoma County Jail on a no-bail warrant for absconding his parole for a 2010 conviction for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon in Sonoma County, and under $100,000 bail for the robbery of a nail salon in Rohnert Park on Sunday.

Hodges and his vehicle were seen in a video in the area of the Rohnert Park nail salon just before the robbery, public safety officials said.

His arrest came after San Rafael police called the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety on Sunday to report an attempted robbery on Friday that was similar to the nail salon robbery. San Rafael police
identified Hodges as the suspect.

Hodges also is suspected of robbing a beauty supply store in Santa Rosa late Monday morning, and a yogurt store on Sept. 23, a tanning salon on Friday and a candy store on Sept. 15, all in Petaluma.

Hodges is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Sonoma County Superior Court.

By Bay City News Service / Image via Shutterstock